Uplift nomads, Ranke panel tells Gujarat govt

Ahmedabad, Oct 18 (UNI) National Commission for Nomadic Castes chiet Balakrishnan Siddhram Ranke, today urged the Narendra Modi government to provide lands and houses to bring the nomadic population of the state into the mainstream.

The commission, which arrived on a two-day visit yesterday, today met the Chief Minister after visiting 11 districts of the state to have a first-hand information on the socio-economic conditions of the nomads.

The meeting was also attended by Gujarat Social Justice Ramanbhai Vora, Tribal Welfare Minister Mangubhai Patel and other top officials.

This is the fourth visit of the commission to the state. Mr Ranke is accompanied by Lakshmanbhai Patni, deputy chairman.

So far the commission has visited, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Harayana. The panel would also visit other states in the future.

According to the commission, the nomadic population in the country was nearly 15 crores.

UNI MP/VNB PM VD BST2053